Jill Stephenson

Biography

After retiring in 2021, it was only a matter of time before Maggs Pool would beckon back its longest-tenured and winningest coach. A two-time Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Coach of the Year, Jill Stephenson joined Coach Parsley's staff as an assistant coach in 2022. During Stephenson's 26-year tutelage and 211 dual-meet wins as head coach, the Sea Gull record books were virtually rewritten with over 100 new records, 219 all-conference honorees, and three CAC Swimmers of the Year. In 1998, Salisbury finished 30th at the NCAA Division III Men's Championship while earning honorable mention All-American status in two events; in 2001, the first female swimmer from Salisbury competed in the NCAA Women's Championship. Stephenson reached the 100-win plateau as women's head coach in 2017 and achieved her 100th win for the men in 2020. Eight additional swimmers earned Provisional NCAA qualifying times in multiple events during her tenure. A four-year letter winner during her undergraduate career at Northern Michigan University, Stephenson was inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 along with her teammates from the 1981-82 Women's Swimming and Diving Team, who finished runners-up at the AIAW Division II Championships. In addition to her duties as the men's and women's swimming coach, Stephenson also served as Salisbury's Aquatic Director and Assistant Athletic Director, adding to the wealth of knowledge and expertise she brings to the team.